KBR and FMC Technologies have been awarded initial contracts by BP for its Project 20K deepwater technology initiative.

The UK major’s initiative is aimed at developing next-generation systems and tools to help unlock the next generation of deepwater oil and gas resources. The initial contracts to KBR and FMC are related to key systems associated with the program, which will pursue technologies needed to explore for, develop, and produce oil and gas from high temperature/high pressure (HPHT) reservoirs up to 20,000 psi and temperatures as high as 350°F (175°C).

KBR will develop program execution and management plans for Project 20K, including capital cost and schedule estimates, risk assessments, and technical designs.

FMC will participate in a technology development agreement, in which it will work jointly with BP to design and develop 20,000 psi rated subsea production equipment, including a subsea production tree and a subsea high integrity pressure protection system.

BP launched Project 20K earlier this year, with the intention of developing technologies over the next decade in four key areas: well design and completions; drilling rigs, riser and blowout prevention equipment; subsea production systems; and well intervention and containment.

The company estimates that application of this technology across its own global portfolio could potentially access an additional 10-20 Bbbl of resources. Those resources are inaccessible with current equipment, it says, which has a technical limit of 15,000 psi pressure and temperatures of 250°F (120°C).

In the US Gulf, BP expects Project 20K technology to play a key role in developing its major deepwater discoveries of recent times, including the Kaskida and Tiber fields in the Paleogene play.

It also sees potential applications for the technology in Egypt, Azerbaijan and other deepwater basins around the world.